Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist, the Republican, leads U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, the
Democrat, 53 - 43 percent among likely voters, including leaners, in the Florida
Governor's race, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Three percent
are undecided, and 28 percent who name a candidate say they might change their mind.

Among registered voters, Crist leads 50 - 39 percent, with 9 percent undecided.
This compares to a 44 - 38 percent Crist lead in a July 26 poll by the independent
Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.

By a 42 - 14 percent margin, Florida voters have a favorable opinion of Crist, with
21 percent mixed and 22 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

For Davis, 57 percent haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

"Congressman Jim Davis has a tough road ahead of him and not much time to get
there. He hasn't come close to introducing himself to enough Floridians to win. Almost
six in 10 voters say they don't know enough about him. Given Crist's large money
advantage, Davis must sprint for the next 28 days," said Peter Brown, assistant director of
the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

Among likely voters for Davis, 51 percent say the main reason they back him is his
political party, followed by 31 percent who cite his stand on the issues.

For Crist supporters, 56 percent point to his stand on the issues, while 19 percent
cite his experience as the main reason they back him.

"The fact that half those who say they are supporting Davis are doing so because of
his political party, rather than his personal qualities, experience or position on the issues is
not a good sign for him," Brown said.

Given three choices, 58 percent of Florida voters list property insurance as the most
important issue in the campaign, followed by 20 percent who list tax cuts and 19 percent
who list the FCAT.

Voters split 44 - 43 percent on whether to keep the FCAT requirement for students
to be promoted in the third grade and high school, or whether to eliminate it. But voters
say 61 - 30 percent that the FCAT should no longer be a factor in school funding.

"Some good news for Davis is that he has been talking a great deal about the
insurance crisis in the state and voters say that is the most important issue," Brown said.

"Perhaps surprising is that given Crist's large lead and embrace of Gov. Jeb Bush,
who remains very popular, Florida voters are split on whether they want to continue with
the current Governor's policies."

From October 3 - 8, Quinnipiac University surveyed 968 Florida registered voters,
with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points. The survey includes 783 likely voters,
with a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts
public opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut,
Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research.
For additional data-www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jeb Bush is handling his job as
Governor?

6. If the 2006 election for governor were being held today and the candidates
were Jim Davis the Democrat and Charlie Crist the Republican, for whom would
you vote?(If undecided 6) As of today, do you lean more toward Davis or Crist?
This table includes Leaners.

15a. In the campaign for governor, three issues have been prominent. Which of the
following three issues do you consider the most important? The status of the FCAT,
the need for further tax cuts, or the escalating cost of property insurance?

16. For public school students in Florida to be promoted from third to fourth
grade and to graduate high school, they must pass the FCAT. Do you support the
present FCAT requirement or do you want to eliminate it?

TREND: For public school students to be promoted from third to fourth grade and
to graduate high school, they must pass the FCAT. Some candidates for governor
want to eliminate those requirements. Do you support the present FCAT requirement
or do you want to eliminate it?
* does not include sentence, "Some candidates for governor ..."

Oct 10 Jun 29 Apr 19
2006* 2006 2006

Support requirement 44 48 47
Eliminate it 43 44 45
DK/NA 13 9 8

17. Public schools in Florida are graded based on the scores their students
achieve on the FCAT. The grade that a school gets affects how much money the
school gets. Do you think the system of grading schools based on the FCAT
should be continued or not?

TREND: Public schools in Florida are graded based on the scores their students
achieve on the FCAT. The grade that a school gets affects how much money the
school gets. Do you think the system of grading schools based on the FCAT should
be continued or not?

Oct 10 Jun 29 Apr 19
2006 2006 2006

Yes 30 33 31
No 61 60 63
DK/NA 8 8 7

18. Florida homeowners who qualify for the Homestead tax exemption currently pay
property taxes on $25,000 less than their home's assessed value. One candidate
for governor has proposed doubling the exemption to $50,000 less than a home's
assessed property value. Do you support or oppose that proposal?